cragin



(No Model.) 3 sheets-sheet 1.

0-; P. ORAGIN,

NUT LOGK..

"No. 340,663. Patented A r. 27, 1886. '5" 1d. 1/1981. 3, p

Wreejssj 2 mentor N. FEKERS. nwwuma m hen Washing": n. a. c.-

(No Model.) 3 Sheets -Sheet 2.

G. P. ORAGIN.

NUT LOOK.

No. 340,663. Patented Apr. 2'7, 1886.

0 1', O 1 b as I b.

be h h a? (No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 3.

' G. P. GRAGIN.

, NUT LOOK.

No. 340,663. PatentedApr. 27, 1886;

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE P. CRAGIN, OF FERGUS FALLS, MINNESOTA, ASSIGNOR, BY DIRECT AND MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO O. D. BAKER AND IDA L. ORAGIN, BOTH OF SAME PLACE.

NUT-LOCK.

@PIEECIPICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 340,663, dated April 27, 1886.

Application filed January 9, 1886. Serial No. 188,088. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that l, GEORGE P. ORAGIN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Fergus Falls, in the county of Otter Tail, State of Minnesota, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Nut-Locking Bars, of

which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

My invention relates to nut-locking bars; and it consists in the construction and arrangement of the parts, which will be more fully hereinafter described, and definitely pointed out in the claims.

One object of my invention is to provide a locking-bar constructed of a single piece of suitable sheet metal with a series of indentations on each side, with suitably-formed ends, which are bent to form seats, the said lockingbar proper being bent longitudinally at or about its central portion, whereby the projections ofthe upper indentations form side washers for the nu ts, and the projections of the lower indentations form base-rests for the bar entire against the angle-plate or the flange of the rail direct, accordingly as it is used.

Afurlher object of my invention is to so construct the lockingbars of suitable thin sheet metal that in cutting or stamping them out a great number can be obtained from one sheet of metal with very little loss or waste of the said metal, and afterward bent to form seats, and struck up to shape them in the desired form by any suitable means.

3 5 I attain these objects by the device illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein like letters of reference indicate similar parts in the several views, and in which- Figure 1 is a plan view of asheet of metal,

illustrating the manner of cutting the blanks therefrom. Fig. 2 isa plan view of one of the blanks. Fig. 3 is a plan view of one of the blanks with one of the ends bent over and down to form a securingseat. Fig. 4 is aperspective View of the bar as it appears after having been struck up into form and ready to be applied. Fig. 5 is a perspective View of a portion of a rail with an angleplate in position thereon, and with my improved lockingbar applied thereto. Fig. 6 illustrates a modi- 5o fied form of the end seats.

A indicates a sheet of thin metal, preferably galvanized iron, Fig. 1, from which the blanks B are cut by suitable means. These blanks are formed with a series of indenta tions, b, which form a series of angular projections, b, on each of their sides. The ends of the blanks are formed with seats I)", which are formed with securing -recesses b, and adapted to be bent over upon the main portion of the blank, as shown by the dotted lines 1. When the blanks are cut from the sheet of metal A; thereis verylittle waste of material. The angular projections 11 are formed by and fit in the indentations b of the blank next ahead, and by this means metal is saved. The only waste of metal is caused by the first cutting to form the projections b and indenta tions b on the sides, as represented at 2 2. A further waste is prevented by forming the end seats, I), on the ends of the metallic sheet A, as represented at 3 3. These are the only wastes that are caused by the formation of the blanks. IVheu the blank B is formed, it will appear as represented in Fig. 2, and as there formedan indentation, b, will be situated immediately back of each angular projection b. The end seats, I)", are then bent over upon the blank B, as shown in Fig. 3, with the securing-recess I) extending over and clearing the lower edge of the said blank. The blank is then bent at or about its central line, as shown by the dotted lines 4 4, and struck up into the form illustrated in Fig. 4. Vhen the blank B has been struck up in this form, it will be observed that side-washers are formed by the projections b in the upper part thereof for the nuts of a rail-joint, while in the lower part the projections I) act as seats or base-rests for the blank entire against the rail-flange direct, or against the flange of an angle-plate. The projections b in the upper part of the blank, when struck up in the form shown in Fig. 4, will be situated directly over the indentations 6, formed in the lower part of the blank, so

that while the upper projections b are acting as side washers for the nuts the lower projections I) are situated directly under the indentations b in the upper part of the blank, and act in the capacity of base-rests, By this arrangement and the construction of the blank of thin sheet metal the upper projections b or side washers are given a spring motion and yield to the pressure exerted upon the rail, slightly forcing the nuts downward, but returning to their normal position when the rail is relieved ol'pressure. The wear upon the bar entire is thus prevented, and at the same time the upper projections are always kept in contact with the nuts.

In Fig. 5 is shown the manner of applying the bar B in connection with a rail-joint. In

this figure a portion ofa rail, 0, is represented,

showing a joint therein, with an angle-plate, D, in position over the joint, and the nuts E E screwed home, together with portions of ties or sleepers F. After the nuts have been screwed home, as described, the barB, struck up as illustrated in Fig. 4, is by suitable pressure forced under the nuts and into position, forming the bar B to the individual spaces between each nut and the flange of angle-plate or rail, with the upper projections b resting against the lower sides of the nuts EE, and the lower projections b resting against the flange ofthe angle-plate D, or againstthe flange of the rail direct, if a fish-plate is used. Spikes are then driven through the securing-apertures b of the seats I) into the sleepers F, and thus secure the bar B in position. The securing-apertures b are constructed with one side open, so that an expansion of the bar is permitted in either direction without releasing it from the place of securemcnt.

In Fig. 6 the end seats, I), are illustrated as being bent under the main body of the locking-bar, instead of over and uponit. In this form the blank B is constructed in the same manner as when the seat is bent in the reverse direction, as heretofore described. These blanks B can be cut from the sheet metal by any suitable means, and bent and struck up in any well-known manner.

A great advantage of my improved nutlocking bar over those heretofore constructed is that itis not necessary to construct it of any one defined shape to fit the plate to which it is adapted to be applied, as it adapts itself to the form of the plate to which it is attached by the pressure system hereinbefore referred to, thus overcoming any variation in the size of the spaces between the nuts and the flange of the angle plate or rail, caused by the use of different sizes of nuts E E, or by the adjustment of same, and by their construction of non-corr0- sive metal they are prevented from destruction by rust.

It is obvious that any form of nut can be used in connection with this device other than those shown without in the least departing from the nature and principle of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is- 4 1. As an article of manufacture, a nut-locking bar formed from thin metal, having suitable indentations and projections, and having end seats formed therewith and bent upon the bar, such bar being bent at or about its central longitudinal line, whereby the projections will form side washers for the nuts in the up per part and base-rests in the lower part, said indentations and projections being arranged substantially as described.

2. In a nut-locking bar, a blank, B, bent at an angle to form an upper and lower portion, projections b, and indentations 1), formed on the outer edges, being arranged as set forth,

the said projections forming side washers for the nuts in the upper part of the bar and base rests in the lower part thereof, and seats Zr, having recesses I)", for securing the bar entire to the sleepers, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I atfix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

GEORGE P. CRAGIN. \Vi tnesses:

CHAS. J. SAWBRIDGE, F. H. LAKE. 

